Melody into Twilight

My love song to the 60s and its turbulent times which now reveal how prescient a decade it truly was. It is my hope this and future generations do not forget its art and music that aspired us.

Melody into Twilight

By

Carlos Lorenzo Estrada 

The American dream is gone

Drifting away like an old 60's song

Like a Rockwell painting 

Reminisced and fading 

Our minds ambivalent 

With hearts recalcitrant 

"Paint it black"

Into "The sound of silence" 

"I heard it through the grapevine"

That we believed...in a dream 

As we looked towards "Yesterday"

"Take another little piece of my heart now, baby"

But "the times they are a changing"

As we stare "All along the watchtower" 

"Dazed and confused" 

In our "house of the rising sun"

With our innocence long since gone

Enraging in our engaging 

A false sense of revelry 

In self righteous indignation 

This broken nation, in catastrophe 

Despite our contempt 

Of "My generation"

Our lost virtues in condemnation 

While singing "feeling good"

As we pass by "strange fruit" 

hanging from a tree with rotted root.

You can have your precious "Nights in white satin"

Encourage false hope and adored lovers passion

But "A whiter shade of pale" 

will always prevail..

from the lies we tell ourselves.

But there is a sweeter sound that's coming

Profound this sound I'm humming.

"Sittin' on the dock of the bay, wastin time..."

 

Author's Note

Thank you for taking the time to read this poem. This was probably one of my more ambitious writings because it touches on a few themes. But it can probably also be a bit ambiguous. Though many of the songs reflect the era they came from I hope those of a newer generation takes the time to listen to these truly classical songs. Feel free to leave any thoughts or comments I truly appreciate your time taken in reading this work.

Reviews

[red93]

Excellent work Carlos and oh how those Song Titles resonate. The USA it seems to me atm is in an even worse state than the UK - obviously the Covid has not helped - but at least in the UK one can live a relatively normal life and walk the streets and get on Buses in some kind of safety - touch wood. America's gun culture is so deeply embedded in the National Psyche, and it creates an aggressive, cruel, ruthless and dysfunctional society as a result. I had a dream of one day flying to New York and seeing the sights in my youth - but 911 turned me off the whole idea completely.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

I totally agree with every word you said for every step we take forward as a society here in the US we end up falling back two. Music from the UK had a tremendous influence on American culture back in the 60's. We would be a whole different country if it were not for those gifts of writing and music from the UK. The Beatles and Rollng Stones may have been influenced by the southern blues of the US but they put the hard edge rock to it inspiring generations after. The contributions of many bands from the UK will never be forgotten. Thank you so much for your comment.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

P.S.
Musically, the sixties was my decade...part of the fifties and early seventies as well, but especially the sixties...all those great songs.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

I was born mid 60s but was raised mostly listening to music of that decade as well as early 70s. If I had a choice I would definitely only listen to the music of the 60's. There is just so much humanity and political awareness to the art of that age.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

ah Procol Harem...."We skip the last fandango, did Cartwheels across " those 60's and played that music

until the "American Tune" disappeared on a "Magic Carpet Ride"--
but we knew then that everything would sooner or later become "Tangled up in Blue"

"we felt in our fingers, we felt it in our toes" love was all around us...then, and the feeling seem to grow.

but where is it now?
Clever use of sixties lyrics...and isn't it strange that Otis put out that song just before he perished in a plane crash...as if he were telling his own fortune...
Nicely done, Carlos,
j.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you J. for your thoughts on this poem. I do find it a bit eerie Otis passed away as his signature song came to become such a hallowed classic in a decade that reflected some of the most prescient art ever. It resonates even today with its haunting whistling melody at the end. Just as Procol Harum's song as well holds such a mystism to it. I had a throw away line for the door's classic "the end", but wanted to keep the poem concise and not too rambling. Their influence should not be forgot. It is my hope if anyone in this younger generation is unfamiliar with the music referenced they go to YouTube to listen to it. Though pure vinyl would best be suited to hear these classics in. Thank you again for your thoughts J.

[R.J Calzonetti (Siniste..]

You should consider taking this into spoken word poetry. It conjures the same powerful lines that would be heard beautifully as much as any other great spoken word piece, it screams to me, and although it is not my generation, I can feel the love that is in it.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you R.J. for your comment on this piece. This truly was written as a homage to that decade which shaped tis country in many profound ways. None more so than the art of that age and poets who challenged us not only in a cerebral way, but spiritual way as well. Those that simply asked of us to be better human beings. You are definitely correct that this feels very much a poem that would resonate well in spoken word. Especially to those that have such a kinship to the music of that time. Thank you so much for your kind words on this piece.